Inositol-5

Each uncoated tablet contains:
Inositol   324 mg 
Soy-free. 

Suggested Dosage:
1-3 tablets daily in divided doses or as directed by your healthcare professional. 

Additional Information:

Inositol may be important for PCOS women for at least three reasons:
• It may aid insulin action and thus reduce insulin resistance.
• It may help to relieve depression, which is common in PCOS.
• It helps your liver to metabolize fat.

Inositol is a compound that has nine different forms. The most well-known and nutritionally active form is "myo-inositol", which most people simply refer to as "inositol". It is a necessary component of the membranes of your cells and is vital to many biological processes in your body. It is a precursor to a number of essential "signaling molecules" that instruct cells how to behave.

Some of inositol's signaling is related to activation of serotonin receptors, which could relieve depression and improve appetite balance. Serotonin is a brain chemical with several important functions in the body, including mood and appetite regulation.

Inositol and Your Liver

Women with PCOS have a very high prevalence of NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Nearly one of every two women with PCOS appears to have this liver disease.

Inositol is also a fat-solublizing agent that helps to transport fat from the liver.  For those overweight PCOS women who may have a problem with fatty liver degeneration, inositol can be helpful.

Inositol and Ovulation

A recent study at the University of Perugia in Italy suggests that common inositol may be helpful for PCOS and polycystic ovaries.  136 PCOS women took inositol (100 mg., twice daily) for 14 weeks. Another group of PCOS women took placebo pills.

The ovulation frequency was significantly higher in the treated group (23%) compared with the placebo (13%). The time in which the first ovulation occurred was significantly shorter (23.6 days) compared with 41.8 days for the placebo group. The number of patients failing to ovulate was higher in the placebo group.

The effect of inositol on follicular maturation was rapid. Also, significant weight loss (and leptin reduction) was recorded in the inositol group, whereas in the placebo group had an increase in weight.

This study suggests a beneficial effect of inositol in improving ovarian function in women with irregular cycles and polycystic ovaries.

The authors of another recent medical study conclude: "Myo-inositol is a simple and safe treatment that is capable of restoring spontaneous ovarian activity and consequently fertility in most patients with PCOS."

Precautions

There are no contraindications for inositol. Inositol supplementation is generally well tolerated. Gastrointestinal effects such as nausea or diarrhea are occasionally reported with high doses. No toxicity has been reported.

Due to a lack of long-term safety data, inositol should be avoided by pregnant women and nursing mothers. Also, one review article suggested that inositol may stimulate uterine contractions, although no research has demonstrated that inositol actually has this effect.

It's theoretically possible that inositol could worsen hypomanic or manic symptoms of bipolar disorder, so people with this condition should check with their doctor before taking supplemental inositol.

Theoretically, high-dose inositol may increase the effects of anti-depressant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI drugs) such as fluoxetine sertraline, paroxetine, fluvoxamine and citalopram, and with 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists, such as sumatriptan. If you are taking anti-depressant drugs, consult with your doctor before taking supplemental inositol.

Dosage

According to the study we cited above, PCOS women appeared to get some benefit from a dose of only 200 mg. daily, which is a very moderate amount. Some doctors may recommend 500 mg. twice daily. In contrast, as much as 12 grams (12,000 mg.) has been used in studies to treat depression or panic attacks.

200 - 1,000 mg. per day for PCOS appears to be safe. A considerably higher dose may be appropriate in some situations, but consult with your physician as to how much more you should take.